Epidermal Growth Factor Decreases the Level of DNA Topoisomerase $II{\alpha}$ in Human Carcinoma A431 Cells

Human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells have an extraordinarily large number of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, and their growth is inhibited by EGF, which results in growth arrest at the Gl phase. In order to investigate the EGF-mediated inhibition mechanism, the expression level of DNA topoisomerase (topo) II was analyzed after EGF treatment. As a result, it was shown that EGF treatment lowered the amount of 170 kDa topo II (topo $II{\alpha}$) but not 180 kDa (topo $II{\beta}$). However, the A431 cell variant resistant to EGF was not sensitive to EGF treatment. These results suggest that EGF-induced growth arrest of A431 cells may be closely related to the depletion of topo $II{\alpha}$.